Separating-machine.



PATBNTBD FEB. zo, 1906.

H. BALDWIN.

SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY1s,19o5.

Z SHEETS--SHEBT 1.

. No. 812,972. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

H. BALDWIN. SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY18. 1905.

2 SHEETS--SHEBT 2.

HOMER BALDWIN, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

SEPARAT'ING-NIACHINE..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

'Application filed May 18, 1905. Serial No. 260,981.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HOMER BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Separating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for separating pulverulent or granular materials which contain heavy or coarse and light or fine particles-for instance, materials which are derived from grain and which contain valuable particles, such as grits, middlings, and flour mixed with less valuable particles, such as dust, fluff, and other light impurities.

The invention has reference more particularly to a separating-machine which comprises a tapering separatingchamber in which a whirling air-current is operative, which runs s irally from the lar e to the small end of tffe chamber, and whic receives the material to be separated at the large end and discharges the separated heavy material at the large end and the light material at the small end of the chamber. In the machine in question the whirling air-current is set in motion by a circulating-fan, which is located outside of the separating-chamber and delivers the air-current tangentially, or approximately so, into the large end of the chamber.

The object of my invention is to provide the machine with means for delivering the material into the whirling air-current in a very effective and advantageous manner for producing the desired separation.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of vtwo sheets, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation offa separating-machine provided with my improvements, this figure being drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 2 to Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section in line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation; Fig. 4, a rear end elevation; Fig. 5, a side elevation, and Fig. 6 a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the feeding-fan and its support viewed toward the large end of the separating-chamber. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the case of the feeding-fan and its support. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the case of the feeding-fan and its support. Fig. l0 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the bolt by which the case of the feeding-fan is clamped in position.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several gures.

tangentially or in such manner that a whirl-- ing or gyrating air-current is produced, which runs spirally from the large to the small end of the chamber. The delivery end of this blast-spout is preferably provided with an adjustable valve d for regulating the strength of the whirling current.

E represents a feeding-fan, which is arranged within the separating-chamber adj acent Ato the large end thereof, so as to receive the material to be separated from the feedopening b/ and feed the same on an air-current into the separating air-current, which issues from the blast-spout c.

F represents the case of the feeding-fan, having its front wallf arranged adjacent to the head b of the separating-chamber and having in its inner wall f an eye f2, through which air is drawn into the case from the axial portion of the separating-chamber. This fan-case has its peripheral wall provided with a dischargeopening'fa, through which the feeding aircurrent, laden with the material to be separated, is delivered outwardly into the separating-current which whirls between the case of the feeding-fan and the peripheral wall of the separating-chamber. The fan-case F is preferably so arranged that it discharges in an upward direction, so that the material entering the case through the feed-opening b is prevented from falling directly to the lower portion of the separating-chamber, but becomes incorporated with or suspended in the feeding air-current generated by the feedingfan and is delivered by this current to the whirling circulating or separating current. The case of the feeding-fan is so mounted that it is capable of a circumferential adjustment, sothat the position of the dischargeopening of the feeding-fan can be adjusted toward or from the blast-spout c, thereby adjusting the point at which and the direc- IOO IIO

tion in which the feeding air-current joins the whirling current. The case F of the feeding-fan by reason of its peripheral wall and the blast orifice or discharge opening therein keeps the feedin air-current and the material under contro and insures the delivery of the material into the separating-current in the proper manner to effect the desired separation. j

Various mechanical devices may be employed for rendering the case of the feedingfan circumferentially adjustable. As shown in the drawings, the case is supported in a semicylindrical basket consisting of two horizonta bars g, secured to the head b of the chamber, and two semicircular bars g, attached to the bars g. The annular front wall f of the case is clamped against the head b of the separating-chamber by a bolt h with sufficient friction to hold the case in position, while permitting the case to be turned in the basket by means of a handle t, which is secured to the peripheral wall of the case and which can be reached through a hand-hole c in the head b.

Z re resents a horizontal shaft which is arrange axially in the separatin -chamber and journaled in bearings l Z2. T e feedingfan is secured to the shaft, and the latter also carries cleaners L, which may be brushes or wipers and which sweep the inner side of the separatin -chamber and prevent accumulations of e material thereon. This shaft may be driven by any suitable means. As shown, it is driven by a belt m and pulleys m m2 from the shaft of the circulating-fan, which latter is driven by a pulley m3.

N represents the air-outlet of the separating-chamber arranged centrally in the small end thereof and consisting of a tube which is somewhat smaller in diameter than the small end of the chamber. This tube is preferably connected with the eye of the case of the circulating-fan by a return-pipe O, so that the air is ke t in circulation within the machine. The out et-tube N projects into the small end of the separating-chamber from the rear wall O thereof and is surrounded by the dustchamber n', which receives the light se arated material and which is provided wit a discharge-spout n2.

P represents a deflector, which is preferably arranged in front of the air-outlet tube N to prevent the direct passa es of the air from the large to the small en of the separating-chamber. This deflector is preferably secured to the shaft Z.

g represents one or more outlets for the heavy material formed in the peripheral wall a of the separating-chamber at the large end thereof and in its lower portion. sents the discharge-hopper, which receives the heavy material from the openings g and which is preferably provided with a weighted discharge-valve g2. This hopper is preferg repreably connected by a return-pipe g3 with the case of the circulating-fan in order to relieve the hopper from any air-pressure which may be caused by air escaping with the heavy material through the outlets g. The material to be separated enters the case ofnthe feedingfan and is incorporated in the air-current generated by the same. This air-current, laden with the material, issues from the peripheral opening in the case of the feedingfan and joins the whirling air-current which is maintained in the separating-chamber by the circulating-fan. This whirling current effects a separation of the light and heavy materials and drives the heavy material to the large end of the chamber and out through the outlets g and the light material to the small end of the chamber and into the dustchamber n', from which it escapes through the spout n2. This dust-chamber can be of considerable size and provides a free escape for the dust at a distance from the aXis of rotation, whereby the escape of dust with the air through the outlet-tube N is avoided. The valuable heavy particles are discharged from the separating-chamber as soon as they are separated from the light worthless particles and are not again brought in con.

tact therewith. Any dust which may adl here to the peripheral wall of the separatingchamber is swept off by the rotating cleaners and returned 7to the whirling current. case of the feeding-fan keeps the material under control until it is thoroughly incorporated in the air-current generated by this fan, and the adjustable mounting of this case enables the operator to adjust the position of the blast-orifice as may be required to produce the best separating effect.

My improved separating-machine is particularly desirable for separating flui and dust from middlings and other heavy valuable particles produced in the manufacture .of flour, but may also be used for other purposes.

I claim as m invention- 1. Inka mac e for separating a mixture of solid particles of dierent size or weight, the combination of an imperforate tapering separating-chamber having near its small end an outlet for the light or fine articles and near its large end an outlet for the-heavy or coarse particles, a circulating-fan arranged outside said chamber and having its blastorifice arranged to deliver the air-current into said chamber near the large end and produce a whirling air-current therein, means for conducting the air-current from the interior of the se arating-chamber to the circulatingfan, a an for feeding the material to be separated into the air-current delivered into the separating-chamber by the circulating fan, the case of the feeding-fan having a peripheral wall by which the feeding-current is confined and which is provided with a blast-ori- The IOO

IIO

'lice by which the feeding-current is directed into the current Which is delivered by the eiroulating-fan, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said feeding-fan, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an imperforate, tapering separating-chamber having near its ends outlets for the separated materials, a circulating-fan arranged outside said chamber and having its blast-orifice connected With tne large end thereof to produce a Whirling air-current therein, means for conducting the air-current from the interior of the separating-chamber to the circulating-fan7 a feeding -fan arranged at the large end of said chamber and having the peripheral Wall of its oase provided With a blast-orifice from which the air-current laden with the material to be separated is delivered into the whirling air-current, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said feeding-fan, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an imperforate, taperng separating-chamber having near its ends outlets for the separated materials, a circulating-fan arranged outside said chamber and having its blast -orifiee connected with the large end thereof to produce a Whirling air-Current therein, means for conducting the air-current from the interior of the separating-oh amber to the circulating-fan, a feeding-fan arranged lWithin said chamber at the large end thereof and having its oase provided With a peripheral blast-orifice, means for adjusting said blast-orifice circumferentially, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said feeding-fan, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of an imperforate, ta-

pering separating-chamber having near its ends outlets for the separated materials, a circulating-fan arranged outside said chamber and having its blast-orifice connected With the large end thereof to produce a Whirling air-current therein, means for conducting the air-current from the interior of the separating-chamber to the Circulating-fan, a feeding-fan arranged Within said chamber at the large end thereof and having a circumferentially-movable oase provided With a blastorifice, means for adjusting said ease circumferentially, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said feeding-fan7 substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of an imperforate7 tapering separating-chamber having near its ends outlets for the separated materials, a

circulating-fan arranged outside said onaml ber and having its blast -orifice connected with the large end thereof to produce a Whirling air-current therein, means for conducting the air-current from the interior of the separating-chamber to the circulating-ian, a feeding-fan arranged Within said chamber and having a circumferentially-movable case provided With a blast-orifice, a support secured to said chamber in Which said ease rests movably, frietional means for holding said case in position While permitting said ease to be adjusted in said support, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said feedingfan, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 13th day of May,

HOMER BALDWIN. Witnesses FRANK D. KLoTz, AARON HAGUE. 

